Following a slew of reported coyote attacks on pets in Rolling Hills Estates, the City Council took action on Tuesday to reduce threats posed by the wild animals.

The council moved to pursue – on a limited basis – a contract with Los Angeles County to trap and euthanize aggressive coyotes.

Officials will also increase educational efforts about coyotes and erect warning signs along horse trails, which are popular with dog-walkers.

The 4-0 vote on the measures, with Councilwoman Judy Mitchell absent, came after resident Debbie Taymour recounted her Jack Russell terrier Ringo being snatched from her Dapplegray Lanes home. His remains were never found.

On Wednesday, Taymour said she was generally pleased with the council action, but would reserve final judgement until she sees results.

“Maybe justice will be served for Ringo,” Taymour said.

Several dozen residents turned out for the council meeting, including homeowners from other areas of the hilly Palos Verdes Peninsula, which provides brush-strewn canyons that make ideal coyote habitat.

The city will begin tracking coyote sightings and attacks that are reported to officials, said Andy Clark, community services director for Rolling Hills Estates.

But educating residents about keeping pets inside after dusk, trying to scare off coyotes and eliminating their sources of food will be the primary goal, he said.

“When we don’t go after them and chase them off and scare them, they get very comfortable,” Clark said. “We do have a number of them who are very comfortable coming into yards.”

For coyotes that are not scared away or for those that challenge humans, the city will contract with the Los Angeles County Department of Agricultural Commissioner.

Specialists will track aggressive coyotes to find their dens and trap them, said Ken Pellman, a spokesman for the department.

“If you’re out and about and the coyote seems to approach human beings without fear, that’s a bad sign,” Pellman said.

The August 2009 fire in the Portuguese Bend area of Rancho Palos Verdes could have displaced groups of coyotes, pushing them into new areas, he said.

Generally, Pellman said that “good coyotes” are helpful to humans by reducing rodent populations. But aggressive ones are problematic, he said.

“Adults can much more easily fend these things off,” Pellman added. “What we don’t want is a kid to be attacked.”

That was Taymour’s warning to city officials.

She said she had told Mayor John Addleman that, if necessary, she would raise money by going door to door to pay for the trapping effort.